LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A bill aimed at cutting off public funding Planned Parenthood receives for a pair of sex education grants narrowly failed in the Arkansas Senate on Friday, but the lawmaker behind the idea said he may try again to get the restriction through the Legislature.

The Senate voted 17-9 - one vote shy of the majority needed in the 35-member chamber - in favor of the bill by Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, that would ban the state from awarding grants to entities that perform abortions or abortion referrals. The Senate had initially approved the restriction with 18 votes, but one was struck after opponents requested a procedural move that removed any votes from lawmakers who weren't in their seat.

Stubblefield has said the proposal is aimed primarily at two grants Planned Parenthood receives for sex education in Little Rock schools and said he believed there are other groups that should receive the funds instead. Planned Parenthood said it provides information about preventing sexually transmitted diseases to 2,000 people through the grants.

"No program will be affected because of this. No one will go without services," he told lawmakers before the vote.

The bill would not apply to funding available through the Medicaid program.

But Planned Parenthood officials have warned that the measure would have unintended consequences by cutting off money to any person or entity referring a woman to an abortion provider. The proposal could end research grants to doctors or stop funding to domestic violence shelters if they refer women to abortion providers, the group has said.

Stubblefield said he may ask the Senate to reconsider his measure later.